Menu

ontario provincial police

opp snowmobile

OPP: Don’t let “living it up” on a snowmobile cost you your life

, ,

This week is Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week, and the OPP is reminding snowmobilers to practice safe riding.

There were seven snowmobile deaths in the province this winter, and 15 last year.

“Snowmobiling is meant to be enjoyable outdoor fun and should never result in the loss of life or injuries,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Karen Meyer. “OPP-investigated snowmobile fatalities reveal the same unnecessary risks being taken year after year. Preventable behaviours like excessive speeding or alcohol and drug impairment put your safety – and your return to your loves ones – at risk. Please make every ride a safe one for you and your family.”

Recent heavy snowfall makes for ideal riding conditions, but police warn not to let enthusiasm cloud riders’ judgement. It has released a list of snowmobile safety tips in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC):

• Abstain from alcohol and drugs
• Always stay on the trail
• Only ride trails showing as Available (Green) or Limited Availability (Yellow) on the ITG
• Know your sled and its capabilities, keep it well-maintained
• Stay alert to the trail ahead and aware of your surroundings
• Stop on the trail at locations with clear sight-lines in both directions
• Check the ITG and weather conditions before your ride
• Before leaving home, notify someone where you will be riding and when you expect to return
• Always carry an emergency kit, snacks, extra fuel, a tow rope and a communication device.		• Always ride with a companion(s)
• Ride in single file on the trails
• Ride your side of the trail
• Leave plenty of space between you and the sled ahead
• Take responsibility for the rider behind you
• Be especially vigilant coming into corners or cresting hills
• Pass groomers and other riders cautiously
• Always stop at crossing roads and take extra caution riding trails on active logging roads
• Slow down at night or when visibility is poor, when non-motorized users are on the trail, or when passing through towns or residential areas

“The safest ride is one you properly plan and prepare for, and where you stick to all the do’s and don’ts of snowmobiling that are meant to keep you and fellow riders safe on the trails,” said OFSC CEO Ryan Eickmeier. “Making smart choices throughout the season, while taking advantage of a vast snowmobile trail network made possible through our outstanding community of volunteers and landowners is your ticket to a safe, enjoyable snowmobile season.”

robbery

Kenora OPP Searching For A Robbery Suspect

, , , , ,

The Kenora OPP are seeking a suspect in connection to a robbery to gas station on Highway 17 east.

Officers responded to distress alarm last night around 9:37.

Police learned that someone had entered the premises with a gun.

The OPP’s Canine Unit, Emergency Response Team were called out, but were unable to locate the person after patrolling the area extensively.

The OPP’s Forensic Identification Services and Critical Incident Command were all called out to assist

The suspect is described as an Indigenous male, wearing a black hoodie, while face mask and camo gloves.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the Kenora OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 548-5534.

ride-check-rainy

Festive RIDE Campaign Launched

, , , , , ,

Ontario Provincial Police have kicked of their stepped up enforcement against impaired driving.

The provincial festive RIDE campaign will go through to January 2nd.

Chief Superintendent Rohan Thompson says the public can help take impaired drivers off the road this winter.

“An excellent example of this is the more than 20,000 calls that have been made to the OPP this year to report a suspected impaired driver,” Thompson told a news conference to launch the RIDE campaign.

Thompson reminds motorists that if you are asked, you must comply with the request for a breath test.

“Mandatory alcohol screening allows police officers to demand a breath sample from any lawfully stopped driver, even if there is no evidence or suspicion that a driver is impaired or has consumed alcohol.”

Last year’s campaign led to almost 12-hundred impaired driving charges provincewide and 237 suspensions for registering in the warn range during testing.

sioux-lookout-opp

Drug Trafficking Charges In Sioux Lookout

, , , , , ,

Two people have been arrested in Sioux Lookout for drug trafficking.

On Monday, around 11 am, officer spotted a suspicious vehicle parked near a recreational area in the area of Third Avenue North.

The OPP were able to seize about 75 hundred dollars worth of methamphetamines, cocaine, magic mushrooms and prescription drugs.

Canadian currency, knifes and a loaded pellet gun were also taken.

20 year old Erin Gray has been charged with trafficking and carrying a concealed weapon while 21 year old Vanessa Boucher-Panacheese has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

They have both been released and will appear in Sioux Lookout Court on August 30 to face the charges.

(Photo provided by the OPP)

261066564-5012857578724632-7592200018172235898-n

Hundreds Of Road-Side Tickets Handed Out From OPP

, , , , , , , , ,

Ontario Provincial Police in the North West Region have wrapped up Canada Road Safety Week.

Officer were seen across communities and highways, and conducted a total of 1,658 traffic stops in the region.

It’s noted that in Thunder Bay and Greenstone, given the community sizes, this is where the OPP had the highest charges in the province.

A total of 1,056 traffic charges were laid including;

  • 1,013 Speeding
  • 3 Street Racing/Stunt Driving
  • 15 Impaired Driving charges
  • 6 Careless Driving
    • 10 No Seatbelt charges (applicable for drivers and passengers in the car)
  • 2 Driving Prohibited

The remaining tickets were as a result of other driver actions and behaviors that jeopardized the safety of road users.

pic_fraud

Cash Frauds Have More Than Doubled In Two Years

, , , , , , ,

Scams can happen nowadays through so many mediums; door to door, telephone, texting, email… the list goes on.

But knowing what is suspicious and how to avoid falling victim is key, and something that the OPP is pushing for more awareness of.

The most recent scam to come to light is a text message about a refund from the province around your license plate renewal and sticker fees, featuring a very clickable link to get your money back.

This is 100% not real or even legitimate.

According to numbers from the Ontario Provincial Police as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) there are millions of dollars lost to fraudsters.

  • Investment frauds represented $163 million in reported losses in 2021, over $33 million in 2020.
  • Cryptocurrency payments to fraudsters jumped to $77 million in reported losses 2021, over $23 million in 2020.
  • Spear phishing frauds (Business Email Compromise) represented $53 million in reported losses in 2021, over $30 million in 2020.
  • Extortion frauds represented $17 million in reported losses in 2021, over $16.4 million in 2020.
  • Service scams represented $11.6 million in reported losses in 2021, over $6.6 million in 2020.
  • Phishing / Identity theft reports increased to 7,566 in 2021, versus 6,953 reports in 2020.

They report that 2021 was a historic year for frauds with losses totaling up to $379 million, a huge increase from $164 million in losses in 2020.

Ontario residents represented 37 per cent of victims, or $142 million gone to funding a fraud.

It is estimated that only 5% of victims report their frauds to law enforcement or the CAFC.

#kNOwfraud #showmetheFRAUD #BeScamSmart https://t.co/I0O0x3lwWy

opp-harborfront-4-1

OPP Investigate Suspicious Death

, , , , , , ,

The Kenora OPP are looking into a suspicious death in the Rideout area.

On Friday afternoon at approximately 3:00 pm, OPP officers were called to a residence on Mikado Avenue in Kenora where one individual was located deceased.

The name of the deceased is not being released at this time.

The investigation is continuing in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario.

While circumstances of the death have yet to be determined, members of the OPP are continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Police say there is no known threat to public safety at this time.

Anyone with information about this occurrence is requested to contact the OPP, at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or report online through ontariocrimestoppers.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

opp-shoulder-flash

OPP Manning Ontario/Manitoba Checkpoint

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So far, so good for the OPP working at the Ontario/Manitoba border.

At midnight Monday morning travel restrictions went into place allowing only necessary travel.

OPP Constable Jason Canfield says they are stopping certain vehicles at the border.

“All vehicles other than transports are being spoken to,” says Canfield, “And (we’re) asking why they’re travelling and not at home during Ontario’s stay at home order.”

He tells us officers will be working there until told otherwise.

“Right now we don’t have any planned end date for when we’ll stop doing this. We have people covered for 12-hour long day and night shifts.”

Canfield adds that as of this morning, they hadn’t turned anyone away.

“As of yet, we haven’t turned anyone away. There are certain reasons people can cross the border and so far everyone fit criteria so far.”

While there are people who live in the Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake area who normally come to Kenora for things like groceries, at this time Canfield says that’s not a justified reason to cross the border.

When it comes to the officers at the border checkpoint, he tells us that they have members coming in from other detachments to make sure no shift runs short.

Canfield adds that they have members like him who can help fill in for calls if need be, and that the OPP plan things like this so they don’t leave any community short on officers.

OPP To Get 200 New Officers

, , , , , , , , , ,

More front-line officers are being made available to the Ontario Provincial Police.

The provincial government says as many as 200 new officers will be recruited.

Sylvia Jones is the provincial Socilitor General and says many of the officers will go to detachments in this area.

“Many in northern Ontario, as you can imagine, that have had chronic understaffing,”

“So we want to make sure we have the resources and the officers on the ground on the ground in those communities.”

Jones says the extra officers are to address several issues, including mental health.

She adds that the recruitment initiative responds to recommendations made by the OPP Independent Review Panel in its final released back in March.

snake-scaled-1

Snake Found In Fort Frances

, , , , , , , , , ,

Not something you see every day.

The OPP in Fort Frances is looking for the owner of a snake.

The reptile was discovered by a homeowner on Saturday afternoon.

Officers collected the snake, and are now looking for the owner.

It believed the reptile is a boa constrictor and is about seven feet long.

Anyone with information about the owner is asked to contact the Rainy River Detachment of the OPP.